Hi Heather I use topical cream such as BenGay amd MaxFreeze. I've also used a heating pad. I haven't tried ice because the area of my back that hurts is very touchy. I'm glad that the ice is helping you, but please be careful and don't leave it on too long. I hope you feel better really soon. Take care.

I live on a heating pad:) I have a really nice one you can take the external cover off & moisten then microwave. It provides a nice warm moist feeling that really seems to help. I think I got it at Walgreens for $20.00.intercostal neuralgia, degenerative disc disease, atherosclerosis, depression, & anxietymeds: gabapentin, oxycodone 30 mg, lipitor, xanax, effient, cymbalta, carbamazepine

I think the thing that helps my pain the most is the recliner, if at all possible, when I have pain, I first try to get into my recliner, and then if that does not help I will take my pain med for break through pain, alternating ice and heat also helps allot.

If you have somebody to help you and if your pain is musclular in your back you might try taking paper cups or styreofoam cups and filling then with water and putting them in the freezer, ( I use to always have at least three or four of them in the freezer at any given time) then when you have back spasms and severe pain have your spouse or your mate, peel back the sides of the cup and run the ice over the sore muscles, it will be cold and uncomfortable at first, I know it use to give my spouse at the time the creeps because my skin would turn bright red and vibrate, but I would have her keep running the ice back and forth over the area, not stopping in and one area, just constant motion, untill the problem area becomes kind of numb, then I would do some simple stretching exercises, to get the spasms to release, and then afterwards apply heat. I find this works very very well for muscle spasms in the back, at least for me! I could at least straighten out for a while after wards. Of course talk with your doctor about any of this first, when I was in the military, the physical therapist would have me do this for pulled muscles and back spasms. I continued the practice, untill the divorce and I had no one to help me with it any more.

Something to think about trying???? Good Luck

White BeardModerator Chronic PainAfter spending nearly 22 1/2 years in the USAF, I retired in Sept, 1991. I then went back to school and became a licensed RN in 1994, and I worked on Oncology and then a Med Surg Unit, I became disabled in late 1999 and was approved SSD in early 2002!-- DDD, With herniated Disk at T-12 and L4-5. C5-C6 ACDF in Sep 2009, C6-C7 ACDF in Mar 1985, Osteoarthritis, Ulcerative colitis, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Complex Sleep Apnea, and host of other things to spice up my life!(NOT!) Medications:Oxycontin, Percocet, Baclofen, Sulfasalazine, Metoprolol, Folic Acid, Supplemental O2 at 3lpm with VPAP Adapt SV I am White Beard with a White Beard!

Great ideas here. Sore42long, I forgot about the Icy/Hot patches. Those have worked great for me in the past!Fibromyalgia, low back pain/SI joint dysfunction, anxiety, obstructive sleep apnea, endometriosis, asthma